Marquez Reacts To Chavez's Talk of His Son Beating Canelo

By Miguel Rivera

In a recent interview, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. made some statements regarding his son, former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.(49-2-1, 32KOs).

A few years ago, Chavez Jr. facing his Mexican rival, two division champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34KOs), was one of the biggest fights in boxing. But Chavez's run has been halted by weight issues, defeats, injuries, and inactivity.

Chavez Jr. has been out of the ring since last July, when he suffered a bad hand injury during his decision win over Marcos Reyes. After going through surgery, he was set to return earlier this year, but then he suffered a heel injury. There is no firm return date in sight.

Chavez Jr. is chasing a world title at the super middleweight limit of 168-pounds, but he's consistently come in overweight - fighting closer to the light heavyweight limit of 175-pounds.

His famous father believes he is still capable of getting down in weight to 160-pounds, where Canelo plans to campaign in 2017.

"Julio is losing weight, he wants to go down to 160 pounds and I believe that if Julio trains hard and is well prepared he can make 160 but it all depends on him,” Chavez Sr. told ESPN Deportes.

Chavez Sr. feels a fight between his son and Canelo will happen in the future - with his son winning the fight.

"I think the fight will happen sooner or later," Chavez Sr. said. "He has the skills to beat Canelo and he has the cojones as well."

Former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez - who is also viewed as a legendary Mexican fighter - says seeing is believing because Chavez Jr. has proved many times in the past that he can't remain focused in the gym or train hard on a consistent level.

"Julio Cesar Chavez can say that if [his son] is well prepared and well trained that he can beat any fighter, but as we say - there is a long way between words and action. He would have to be a fighter who is more constant in his preparation, and then after that we can see what happens," Marquez told ESPN Deportes.

"He can aspire to beat everyone or any fighter and aspire to be invincible in the ring, but you have to train because in order to get the big fights you have to be physically and mentally prepared, be more constant in the gym and then from there you can talk about winning and having the power to beat virtually everyone. He has all of the faculties [to be successful], but the hardest part [for him] is to train, prepare and go to the gym."